Mitigating the effects of maternal anxiety and depression in Nepal through psychosocial support groups

• In Event: Highlighted Session: Caregiver wellbeing in the context of COVID-19: evolving strategies to assess and respond to an evolving global crisis

Proposal

In 2019, the Center for Mental Health Counseling (CMC) Nepal and Save the Children conducted a study in Saptari district and found a very high level of anxiety (53.6%) and depression (47.6%) among mothers of children under five (Save the Children, 2019). Caste, education level, family type and conflict in the family were significantly correlated with mother anxiety and depression, whereas having a migrant family member was not significant. At the same time, respondents could not recognize depression and anxiety as mental health problem, and they mostly relied on traditional and religious healers for help. The study also found that almost no mental health and psychosocial support services were available and municipality level health service providers and health workers had almost no understanding of anxiety and depression.
Research has shown that children whose mothers suffer from depression or anxiety are often at great risk of developing mental health problems during childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Investing in mental health services and awareness raising activities could not only support mothers but also prevent mental health problems in their children.
In 2020, based on the findings from this study and exaggerated psychosocial impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMC Nepal and Save the Children designed a psychosocial support program for caregivers of young children. The aim of the approach was to offer up to 12 psychosocial support group sessions for caregivers with young children to help them understand and process stress, as well as establish peer support groups. Facilitators with secondary education were trained to deliver psychosocial support sessions in southeast Terai and supported by professional counselors to run the first few group sessions. Caregivers in distress could also access phone-based counseling services with professionals. A follow up training was designed based on a review of the facilitators’ practices and caregivers’ experiences. This initiative resulted in a localized psychosocial support program model for caregivers of young children that can be replicated in other parts of Nepal.

Authors

• Laxmi Paudyal, Save the Children

• Sara Dang, Save the Children